Tripods and camera accessories buying guide
A tripod is only useful if it is stable and light enough that you actually carry it.
- Check the maximum load against your heaviest camera plus lens, and leave generous margin.
- Aluminium is cheaper and heavier; carbon fibre is lighter and pricier.
- Quick-release plates save time, and a ball head is faster to set than a three-way head.
- For phones, look for a clamp that holds a case, plus a Bluetooth remote.
- Fold length matters for travel; measure the bag it must fit in.
Common mistake: Extending the thin bottom leg sections first: they are the wobbly ones.